Emma Snowsill insists she has been taking it pretty easy since finally breaking through for Australia's first Olympic triathlon gold medal in Beijing.

But it didn't make any difference as she extended her remarkable domination of the Noosa triathlon, winning in commanding style for the fifth time in six years.

Courtney Atkinson made it a double triumph for the Gold Coast in Australia's most prestigious triathlon by winning the men's race.

It ended a long run of near-misses in the Olympic-distance event for Atkinson, who had finished second at Noosa three times in the past decade.

Racing for the first time since the Beijing Games in August, Snowsill, 27, had the women's event at her mercy after opening up a 38-second lead in the swim leg.

She drove home the advantage to clock a winning time of one hour 59 minutes and 39 seconds, with Beijing bronze medallist Emma Moffatt a distant second in 2:03:02.

Rising star Sarah Crowley was third.

"I did feel more nervous than I did before the Olympics and it must be that you know you've done everything possible when you're on an Olympic start-line," said Snowsill, who has eased back on her regular gruelling training schedule in the last couple of months.

"This time around, I know I did everything possible two and a half months ago.

" .. but once I'm out there I just enjoy it, I truly love this sort of course."

Snowsill's record fifth Noosa triumph moved her within one of Craig Walton's six successes in the event, prompting the Queenslander to joke that her coach and fiance may have to end his year-long retirement to retain household bragging rights.

"I never honestly come here and think about the number of times I've won here," said Snowsill, whose hectic post-Olympic schedule has included attending the AFL grand final as a guest of honour and being the official starter of the Gold Coast IndyCar race.

"I just come with the attitude that I love it and enjoy it and want to put my best foot forward."

Walton has often been Atkinson's Noosa nemesis. But this time he was largely unchallenged, going past Josh Amberger early on the bike leg and powering away to win the 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run event in 1:46:38.

David Dellow was runner-up for the second year in succession in 1:48:47 and fellow Australian James Seear was third.

"I've come second here many times and it's always been in a running race by someone different," said Atkinson, who was 11th at the Beijing Olympics.

"This is the first time in a long time that I've come here really ready to race.... today was quite surreal. I don't feel like I could continue to lose here.

"A lot of times I've come here on one leg, sometimes I've been fit and tried to go with Craig and his cycling prowess was too good and I suffered for doing that.

"There have been ups and downs over the years but this year, being in shape for the Olympics, it was pretty easy to just continue on for a couple of months."

Triple world champion Peter Robertson was 10th.

John Salvado
AAP